RJD, Cong close to pact, talk seats for others | Economic Times

New Delhi: The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress are learnt to have agreed to a broad outline of seat sharing for the Bihar assembly elections after 4-5 rounds of talks, including one physical meeting.The grand alliance (Mahagatbandhan) in the state - headed by the RJD - comprises Congress, Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) and VIP (Vikassheel Insaan Party).While RJD is eyeing 150-155 seats, the Congress hopes to get about 60-65 seats.Other smaller allies in the alliance may share the remaining 30-40 seats.While CPI and CPM have agreed to join hands with the RJD, CPI (ML) is separately involved in seat sharing talks with the RJD. Depending on CPI (ML)’s response, the leading partners (RJD and Congress) may have to bring down their seat demand.CPI (ML) has its own support base in various regions and is considered an important political force among the Left parties in the state.According to sources, a CPI (ML) delegation met senior RJD leaders last week and requested them to take a final decision on the number of seats it will be allotted.“We won three assembly seats - Darauli (Siwan), Tarari (Bhojpur) and Balrampur (Katihar) in the 2015 assembly polls. Our party’s performance was satisfactory in at least 16 seats,” a source in the CPI (ML) said, adding that it was waiting for the RJD to communicate its decision.“We hope to get a respectable number of seats. We will take a final decision only after knowing about our share of seats,” he told ET.Sources said the RJD is in favour of putting up a united Opposition against the NDA in the upcoming assembly polls and is also working on other possible formulas.“Seat sharing formula under consideration involves RJD allotting 80-90 seats to Congress which would accommodate RLSP, CPI and CPM. The RJD may allot the shares of CPI (ML), VIP and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) from its quota,” a source in Congress said.JMM is an RJD ally in Jharkhand.The RJD has started the process of shortlisting candidates and is collecting the biodata of ticket aspirants.